Air circulating device for warm air furnaces



Sept. 15, 1931. E. ACKERMAN ET AL AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE FGR WARM AIR FURNACES Filed Oct. 26. 1928 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Jim/swim 5' 1m? Arkwmcm "y Mil? MOI W915 p 3 E. ACKERMAN-ET AL 1,323,521

AIR CIRGULATING DEVICE FOR WARM AIR FURNACES Filed. 001,. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Imferm Patented Sept. 15, 1931 v r ne srs wa FFICE v EMIL ACKERMAN AND WALTER. MOWERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE FOR WARM AIR FURNACES Application filed October 26, 1928.

' 5 to an air circulating device adapted to be installed in the intake duct of a hot air furnace.

It is necessary in various instances to install means for creating a forced circulation of air in heating systems of the above type and various methods have been devised to accomplish this. However, previous to the conception of the present device, there has been no apparatus entirely satisfactory for this purpose which embodied all the elements necessary for efficientservice. In some or the former devices, a blower fan is centrally located within a frame having inclined lou vres opened by gravity when the blower fan stops. Other methods consist of haying a certain portion of the forced draft, directed against the louvres so as to move them to closed position against their normal tendency to remain open due to their inclination.

As is readily seen, neither of these methods are positive in operation as the louvres are very easily prevented from opening or closing by the presence of any foreign matter which might, lodge between them and the frame; furthermore, unless the louvres are securely held in closed position, there is a tendency for them toflutter and create undesirable noises.

In the present invention, the louvres are positively opened and closed upon stopping or starting of the fan motor. 'lVhen in their closed position they are securely held against the frame member and are prevented from rattling. The louvres in this improved air circulating device are also pivoted in such a manner that gravity, deflected draft. or back pressure will have no direct effect upon their action, their movement being cont-rolled wholly by mechanical means.

It is, therefore, an object of. this invention to provide a device for creating a mechanics 1- ly controlled draft in a hot air furnace.

Another object of the invention pertains to the provision of a device for setting up a.

Serial No. 315,300.

draft in a hot air furnace, and having positively operated closures mounted therein.

Another object resides in the provision of a resilient mounting for the fan operating unit in an air circulating device, whereby all vibration of the operating unit is absorbed, thus eliminating undesirable noises normally set up by such vibration.

These and such other objects as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved air circulating device with parts shown in the position assumed when the fan is in operation.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view of the device with the fan motor at rest and the louvres in open position, as installed in a hotair intake duct of afurnace.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the device as viewed from the outlet side, the louvres being shown in their closed position, assuming the blower fan to be in operation.

Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view through the device taken on line 4;-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through one of the blower fan motor supporting lugs, showing the cushioning means employed in mounting said motor.

Figure 6 is afra-gmental sectional view through a louvre, showing a strip of rubber or the like mounted thereon.

The air circulating devicev shown herein preferably is mounted in a substantially rectangular frame member 11, which may be formed of sheet metal preferably slightly heavier than that ordinarily used in forming air ducts. This frame member is provided with an outwardly extending flange. 12 on each edge to furnish means for securing thereto the flanged ends of the air duct 13 into which duct the device is inserted.

Extending from the top to the bottom of the frame'niember and secured therein is a panel 14 preferably of sheet metal having a central opening 15. Securely mounted on this panel and extending outwardly therefrom is a blower fan motor 16, the latter having a plurality of mounting lugs 17 extending therefrom at spaced intervals and having threaded apertures 18 therein. Suitable arms or supportingrods 19 are rigidly secured to the panel 14 at spaced intervals around the central opening 15, each of said arms being provided with apertured bosses 21 on their inwardly directed ends which align with the apertured ears 17. Bolts 22 (Fig. 5) are employed for securing the lugs 17 to the apertured bosses 21, said bolts carry metallic washers 23 thereon and have rubber tubing 24 extending over a part of their length. When the bolts 22, having the metallic washer 23 and the rubber tubing 24 mounted thereon, are inserted in the apertured bosses 21, rubber washers 25 are placed on either side of said bosses and the bolts are then screwed into the tapped apertures 18 of the lugs 17. This provides a. very secure mounting for the motor 16, as well as insulating it from its mounting to the extent that all vibration set up by said motor is absorbed by the insulation, thereby making the device quiet in operation.

The motor shaft extends inwardly towards the panel 14 and has a fan 26, which is of a size sufficiently large to cover the. entire area of the opening 15, secured thereon.

As shown in the drawings, the panel 14 is mounted near one face of the frame member 11 and terminates a considerable distance. from the end walls, thus forming an auxiliary air passage on each side of said panel. Flanges 27 serve to strengthen the panel. It is important for the successful operation of this device that the auxiliary air passages be closed securely, when the motor driving the fan is put into operation. Upon stopping the fan these auxiliary air passages must be opened to permit free uninterrupted passage of air therethrough.

To provide proper closures for the auxiliary air passages, louvres 31 are pivotally mounted for free swinging motion in a vertical plane in said passages, each louvre preferably being provided with a centrally located vertical bearing pin 32 which extends through suitable apertures or bearings provided therefor in the top and bottom walls of the frame 11. The louvres, being pivotally mounted at their vertical center, will not be influenced by back pressure or direct blast, as are the louvres employed in similar air circulating devices.

To insure opening and closing of these louvres, a mechanically operated means is provided. This means is mounted on a vertically disposed strap 34, which is centrally disposed in alignment with the motor driven blower fan 26 and on the opposite side of the panel 14 within the frame 11. 'This strap supports an oscillatable baffle 35, the hub 36 of which is pivotally mounted on the strap 34 by a bolt or stud 37.

The oscillatable baflle comprises preferably two specially shaped blades 38 one of which is heavier than the other to over-balance normally the other. As shown, the heavier blade 38 necessarily is positioned to move in an arc upwardly against gravity when the oscillatable bafiie is partially rotated to move the blades from the horizontal. A pair of oppositely disposed lugs 39 are provided on the hub 36, each of which has pivotally connected thereto one end of a conecting link 41. These links are opposed to each other and extend substantially horizontally towards each louvre, the links being pivotally connected thereto at their ends by a pin 42, thus providing a mechanical connection between the oscillatable bafiie and said louvres.

t will be seen that when the power operated fan 26 is idle (Fig. 2), the bafiie blades 38, because of the heavy blade, seek their normal position in a substantially horizontal plane and are held from further movement by reason of the connections with the louvres. This partial rotation of the bafiie 35 exerts a pull on each of the links 41, thereby swinging the louvres to their fully opened position, as shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, when the power operated fan 26 is in operation, the draft forced through the opening 15 in the panel 14 strikes the bafile 35, and causes the latter to assume a position, such as is shown in Fig. 3, thereby moving the links 41 apart and closing the shutters 31.

It will be noted that the baflle 35, in rotating to close the louvres, maintains the same distance from the blower fan as when in its horizontal position. This insures a constant pressure on the blades 38 so that the louvres are held closed by the same amount of pressure as they were subjected to at the beginning of their closing operation. In similar types of air circulating devices, the pressure acting to maintain the louvres in closed position is considerably less than that applied at the start, due to the moving away of the actuating means from the source of air pressure.

To further insure an air-tight closing of the louvres, angles or other suitable stops or ledges 43 are provided on the inside of the frame 11 and along the flanges 27 of the panel 14. By providing the free edges of the shutters with a rubber strip 44, as shown in Fig. 6, an extremely tight joint will be assured in addition to eliminating any possible rattle which might be caused while the shutters are adjusting themselves to their closed position upon starting the power operated blower fan. However, the construction of the louvre actuating means is such that this may be dispensed with if desired.

With a construction, such as that just described, it is apparent that an air circulating device for hot air furnaces is provided which is both positive and silent in operation. positive means of mechanically opening and closing the shutters insures a fool proof device and one which will not prove to be an annoyance.

Although an exemplary form of the invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that this device is capable of embodying numerous modifications and variations in detail construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

WVe claim:

1. In combination with an air circulating device, comprising a frame having a power operated fan and louvres pivotally mounted therein, means for operating said louvres, said means comprising an oscillatable bafiie mounted in the path of the forced draft created by the power operated fan, and mechanical means flexibly connecting said bafiie and louvres whereby said louvres are moved to close position upon starting the power operated fan.

2. In an air circulating device, the combination of, a frame, a power operated fan mounted in said frame, louvres pivotally mounted in said frame, and oscillatablc means for operating said louvres operable by the forced draft created by the power operated fan, said means being operatively connected by links to the louvres whereby the atter are operated to close in unison with the starting of the fan.

3. In combination with an air circulating device having a power operated fan mounted therein, louvres pivotally mounted in a vertical position on each side of said fan, an oscillatable baflle operable by the forced draft created by the power operated fan, and links connecting said baffle with the louvres whereby they are opened or closed upon the stopping or starting of the power operated fan.

4. In an air circulating device having a power operated fan mounted therein, and having in combination, louvres pivotally mounted in a vertical position on each side of said fan, an oscillatable baflie operable by the forced draft created by the power operated fan, and means connecting said louvres with said baffle whereby they are opened or closed upon partial rotation of said baflie;

5. In an air circulating device for a furnace, having in combination, a power operated fan, a plurality of pivotally mountedby when the power operated fan is in opera-.

tion the auxiliary fan is moved out of hori- The zontal alignment the draft created there- .by to move the-louvres to closed position.

6. In an air circulating device for a fursn-ace, 'having in combinatlon with a power power operated fan, an oscillatable bafiie adapted to be :actuated by the forced draft created by said power operated fan pivotally mounted on said support and having a hub,-

eoperated :fan and a plurality of louvres, 70

support mounted in said frame adj acent the ears on said hub, links pivotally connectedat one end to said ears, said links having their opposite ends pivotally connected to the louvres whereby upon partial rotation of said baflle the louvres are rotated about their pivots.

7'. In an air circulating device for a furnace having a power operated fan and louvres mounted therein, and having in combination,

an oscillatable bafiie adapted to be actuated nace, having a power operated blower fan mounted therein, the combination with, louvres in said circulating device, and rotatable means fixedly mounted in the direct path of and operable by the draft created by said blower fan for varying the position of the louvres.

10. In combination with an air circulating device having a power operated blower fan and a plurality of louvres mounter therein, rotatable means associated with said louvres fixedly mounted in the direct path of and operable by the draft created by said blower fan for varying the position of the former.

11. In combination with an air circulating device having a plurality of openings, means for artificially creating a forced draft through one of said openings, closures for the others, means operable by said last named means for positively opening or closing said closures, said means consisting of an oscillatable bafiie mechanically connected to the closures.

12. The combination with an air circulating device having a plurality of openings, a power operated fan for artificially creating a forced draft through one of said openings, louvres in the other openings, and means fixedly mounted in the path of and operable by the forced draft created by said power opera-ted fan for opening and closing said louvres, said means consisting of an oscillatable bafiie connected by links to said louvres.

In testimony whereof We affiX our signatures at 1805 N. Kostner Avenue, Chicago,

Illinois.

EMIL ACKERMAN. WALTER MOWERS. 

